Black Lives Matter will protest at Mall of America despite injunction

Black Lives Matter activists will descend on the Mall of America outside of Minneapolis today to protest the recent police shooting of an unarmed black youth. A state judge barred three of the organizers from attending the rally, but said she didn't have the authority to force BLM organizers to post a cancellation notice on social media.

Judge Karen Janisch in a ruling on Tuesday issued the order against activists Michael McDowell, Miski Noor and Kandance Montgomery. But the judge denied the mall’s request for a broader order against Black Lives Matter Minneapolis that would requireFacebook posts about the protest to be deleted and tweets sent out canceling the event.

Susan Gaertner, a lawyer for Mall of America, said the ruling sends a message that the mall is private property and demonstrations aren’t permitted. “That is a powerful message that hopefully this year will get through,“ she said.

A lawyer for the activists didn’t immediately return a call seeking comment. They had argued in court that a restraining order would violate free-speech protections.

The Black Lives Matter movement grew out of last year’s fatal shooting of Michael Brown,an unarmed black 18-year-old man, by a white police officer in Ferguson, Mo. It has expanded to cities across the country, focusing on issues such as police accountability, excessive force and community input.

In Minneapolis, activists a year ago demonstrated at the mall in the Minneapolis suburb of Bloomington during the holiday shopping season, drawing more than 1,000 people and resulting in three dozen arrests. They also protested at the Minnesota State Fair and shut down sections of the Twin Cities’ light rail system during the Minnesota Viking’s first home game. More recently, activists set up an encampment at a police precinct station after police shot and killed 24-year-old Jamar Clark during what authorities have described as an altercation with officers.

The Mall of America said in court filings that the demonstration last year caused considerable harm to business, from a 15% drop in vehicle traffic to stores reporting a double-digit drop in sales.

Sauce for the goose. The prospect of being arrested will draw even more activists to the protest.

Black Lives Matter has made it abundantly clear that they are as anti-capitalist as they are anti-police so it must be exciting for them to get a twofer out of their protest. But seriously, this is a combustible situation the could turn violent in an instant. Thousands of harried shoppers fighting the crowds and stressed out, meet up with BLM protestors screaming in their face.

Not a recipe for civil peace.

There's not much Mall of America can do to avoid this mess. Hopefully, there will be enough police present to deter vandalism and destruction of property, but don't bet on it. BLM needs a media home run and an incident at the largest mall in America would fill the bill.

Black Lives Matter activists will descend on the Mall of America outside of Minneapolis today to protest the recent police shooting of an unarmed black youth. A state judge barred three of the organizers from attending the rally, but said she didn't have the authority to force BLM organizers to post a cancellation notice on social media.

Judge Karen Janisch in a ruling on Tuesday issued the order against activists Michael McDowell, Miski Noor and Kandance Montgomery. But the judge denied the mall’s request for a broader order against Black Lives Matter Minneapolis that would requireFacebook posts about the protest to be deleted and tweets sent out canceling the event.

Susan Gaertner, a lawyer for Mall of America, said the ruling sends a message that the mall is private property and demonstrations aren’t permitted. “That is a powerful message that hopefully this year will get through,“ she said.

A lawyer for the activists didn’t immediately return a call seeking comment. They had argued in court that a restraining order would violate free-speech protections.

The Black Lives Matter movement grew out of last year’s fatal shooting of Michael Brown,an unarmed black 18-year-old man, by a white police officer in Ferguson, Mo. It has expanded to cities across the country, focusing on issues such as police accountability, excessive force and community input.

In Minneapolis, activists a year ago demonstrated at the mall in the Minneapolis suburb of Bloomington during the holiday shopping season, drawing more than 1,000 people and resulting in three dozen arrests. They also protested at the Minnesota State Fair and shut down sections of the Twin Cities’ light rail system during the Minnesota Viking’s first home game. More recently, activists set up an encampment at a police precinct station after police shot and killed 24-year-old Jamar Clark during what authorities have described as an altercation with officers.

The Mall of America said in court filings that the demonstration last year caused considerable harm to business, from a 15% drop in vehicle traffic to stores reporting a double-digit drop in sales.

Sauce for the goose. The prospect of being arrested will draw even more activists to the protest.

Black Lives Matter has made it abundantly clear that they are as anti-capitalist as they are anti-police so it must be exciting for them to get a twofer out of their protest. But seriously, this is a combustible situation the could turn violent in an instant. Thousands of harried shoppers fighting the crowds and stressed out, meet up with BLM protestors screaming in their face.

Not a recipe for civil peace.

There's not much Mall of America can do to avoid this mess. Hopefully, there will be enough police present to deter vandalism and destruction of property, but don't bet on it. BLM needs a media home run and an incident at the largest mall in America would fill the bill.